Little Louie Vega, one-half of the excellent house production team
Masters at Work, was so impressed by
Marc Anthony's vocal prowess that he produced a set of songs around him, and the results formed
Anthony's debut album. Though fans of traditional Latin music may have been shocked to see giants like
Tito Puente and
Eddie Palmieri working with a dance producer, their fears were completely unfounded. (
Vega's tight connections to the salsa community include his uncle,
Hector Lavoe.)
When the Night Is Over is an intriguing fusion of house and salsa, with all the energy fans of either style could expect, but without sacrificing solid musicianship or irresistible grooves. The single "Ride on the Rhythm" is an effortless dancefloor stormer that single-handedly makes the album worth the admission price. ~ John Bush